Comments on: Keeping the Faith http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/07/keeping-the-faith/ A Catholic e-Magazine about Integrating Faith, Family & Work Thu, 17 May 2012 09:47:09 -0400 hourly 1 By: Tweets that mention Keeping the Faith | The Integrated Catholic Life -- Topsy.com http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/07/keeping-the-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-446 Tweets that mention Keeping the Faith | The Integrated Catholic Life -- Topsy.com Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:35:49 +0000 http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/?p=3417#comment-446 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by A Verdade Ilumina, ICL - Catholic eZine. ICL - Catholic eZine said: Theresa Thomas writes about helping young adults "Keep the Faith" on ICL http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/07/keeping-the-faith/ [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by A Verdade Ilumina, ICL – Catholic eZine. ICL – Catholic eZine said: Theresa Thomas writes about helping young adults "Keep the Faith" on ICL http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/07/keeping-the-faith/ [...]

]]> By: Amy Ivsan http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/07/keeping-the-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Amy Ivsan Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:08:31 +0000 http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/?p=3417#comment-445 Pride is the greatest enemy of man's soul, the most significant obstacle to spiritual advancement, and the substance of all sinful rebellion. It was subtley yet violently introduced in the garden, leading to the fall of man and true separation from God; and in pride's rebellious aftermath we are left with the inheritance of original sin. Baptism has removed the effects of original sin, but the human person will always be contending with his fallen nature thus battling concupiscence, and oftentimes we struggle against the sins others commit against us. Exposure to hypocrisy manifest in christians is a masquerading sin hidden behind the veneer of spirituality. The illusion man projects at times of his own self-defined holiness is merely another manner in which the demon of pride struts his stuff as a quasi saint. The gift of discernment exposes the appearance of contrived charity, and what we discover can be the painful and stinging effects of unjust judgement and criticism on the part of our faith practicing brethren, but more importantly the subtle distraction which can become all consuming, is the preoccupation with other's sin and the obvious hypocrisy. I believe by virtue of noticing another's hypocrisy we set the stage for ourselves mentally, to make excuses for our own iniquities. Furthermore, do we not become a hypocrite ourselves by pointing out another's hypocrisy? For due to man's propensity toward sin, which is only combatted by the free gift of grace, are we all not hypocrites at times? Lack of humility which is the only antidote to pride is what ultimately establishes hypocrisy in any sinner, and unless we have already become perfect in this mortal life; we are all guilty of this particular sin. The only remedy is to pray for the hypocrite, and to allow the sting of unmerited criticism on the part of a brother to sanctify ourselves spiritually. The primary reason we are sensitive to judgement is because we are overly preoccupied with self. If I know who I am in Him, the opinion of others becomes irrelevant, and the weapons of judgement and hypocrisy used by the devil to take the focus off of Him become disempowered. If I am engaged in daily self-examination of conscience, and frequenting the confessional, my objective tends toward the ongoing excavation of my own personal sin. Cooperating with God's grace and growing spiritually is a full-time job. May I always have mercy for the sinner for His Mercy for me has been endless. Temptation toward intolerance of others for any reason is merely a machination of satan to encourage the soul to violate the call to virtue and deny charity her rightful demonstration in our bodily temple. We are given an intellect and the ability to reason cogently in order to form healthy and safeguarding judgements; and we are permitted to inspect the 'fruit,' so to speak, to employ God given discernement in order to learn, but we can never condemn the 'fruit' entirely. That is God's prerogative. The Lord will enlighten our eye to the good, the bad, and the ugly; for it is a Divine commission and call to prayer. Pray for the sinner and praise God for His mercy. And always remember, " Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Pride is the greatest enemy of man’s soul, the most significant obstacle to spiritual advancement, and the substance of all sinful rebellion. It was subtley yet violently introduced in the garden, leading to the fall of man and true separation from God; and in pride’s rebellious aftermath we are left with the inheritance of original sin. Baptism has removed the effects of original sin, but the human person will always be contending with his fallen nature thus battling concupiscence, and oftentimes we struggle against the sins others commit against us. Exposure to hypocrisy manifest in christians is a masquerading sin hidden behind the veneer of spirituality. The illusion man projects at times of his own self-defined holiness is merely another manner in which the demon of pride struts his stuff as a quasi saint. The gift of discernment exposes the appearance of contrived charity, and what we discover can be the painful and stinging effects of unjust judgement and criticism on the part of our faith practicing brethren, but more importantly the subtle distraction which can become all consuming, is the preoccupation with other’s sin and the obvious hypocrisy. I believe by virtue of noticing another’s hypocrisy we set the stage for ourselves mentally, to make excuses for our own iniquities. Furthermore, do we not become a hypocrite ourselves by pointing out another’s hypocrisy? For due to man’s propensity toward sin, which is only combatted by the free gift of grace, are we all not hypocrites at times? Lack of humility which is the only antidote to pride is what ultimately establishes hypocrisy in any sinner, and unless we have already become perfect in this mortal life; we are all guilty of this particular sin. The only remedy is to pray for the hypocrite, and to allow the sting of unmerited criticism on the part of a brother to sanctify ourselves spiritually. The primary reason we are sensitive to judgement is because we are overly preoccupied with self. If I know who I am in Him, the opinion of others becomes irrelevant, and the weapons of judgement and hypocrisy used by the devil to take the focus off of Him become disempowered. If I am engaged in daily self-examination of conscience, and frequenting the confessional, my objective tends toward the ongoing excavation of my own personal sin. Cooperating with God’s grace and growing spiritually is a full-time job. May I always have mercy for the sinner for His Mercy for me has been endless. Temptation toward intolerance of others for any reason is merely a machination of satan to encourage the soul to violate the call to virtue and deny charity her rightful demonstration in our bodily temple. We are given an intellect and the ability to reason cogently in order to form healthy and safeguarding judgements; and we are permitted to inspect the ‘fruit,’ so to speak, to employ God given discernement in order to learn, but we can never condemn the ‘fruit’ entirely. That is God’s prerogative. The Lord will enlighten our eye to the good, the bad, and the ugly; for it is a Divine commission and call to prayer. Pray for the sinner and praise God for His mercy. And always remember, ” Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

]]> By: Randy Hain http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/07/keeping-the-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-444 Randy Hain Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:25:37 +0000 http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/?p=3417#comment-444 Theresa-I just renewed my membership in the Theresa Thomas fan club! This is a warm and relevant article we can all learn from. Not only have you given great insight into helping our young adults keep and grow in their Catholic faith, you have helped us all understand the important role we play in showing good example to others. Thank you for this gift. In Christ- Randy Theresa-I just renewed my membership in the Theresa Thomas fan club! This is a warm and relevant article we can all learn from. Not only have you given great insight into helping our young adults keep and grow in their Catholic faith, you have helped us all understand the important role we play in showing good example to others.

Thank you for this gift.

In Christ-

Randy

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